Glutathione: What It Does & When to Take It

What Is Glutathione?

Glutathione (GSH) is a sulfur-containing compound molecule that is made inside every cell in the human body. It is composed of three amino acids: L-glutamine, L-cysteine, and L-glycine.

Glutathione:

• Is the single most protective antioxidant produced by the body 

• It protects cells against the oxidative stress of free radicals 

• It protects vulnerable DNA from damage

• Binds heavy metals

• Remove toxins 

• Is anti-inflammatory (1, 2)  

• Enhances immune function

• Is especially supportive during infections (3, 4) 

• Is a crucial compound for detoxification processes in the liver 

• Is critical for cellular energy generation in the mitochondria 

Chronic illness and long-term toxin exposure may deplete stored glutathione as well as hinder its production. 

Who Needs It?

The body’s ability to make glutathione naturally declines with age, so just when aging individuals become more susceptible to illness, their immune systems may not be functioning optimally. Supplemental glutathione may provide more of this compound than the body is able to generate on its own.

I would mainly focus glutathione supplementation on those who are experiencing toxicity and its related symptoms. Some examples could be:

• People who have been chronically exposed to toxic mold

• People who’ve been exposed to toxins in water, air, or at work

• Children with autism due to Clostridia and other infections

• An aging person who has been prone to infections and illness

• If you tend to get sore easily and recover poorly from exercise

How to Know if You Have Low Glutathione

You might be wondering, ‘how would I know if I have these things?’ Great question! Here are three things you can do:

1) Review Symptoms

Firstly, you can look at your symptoms:

• Do you have chronic symptoms despite trying your best at your health?

• Are you chronically fatigued and run down? 

• Always sore and can’t tolerate exercise?

2) Consider Exposures

This one is trickier because even if you try to lead a low-tox lifestyle, you could still have exposure. For example:

• Have you ever lived in a musty home or one that sustained water damage?

• Do you live in a brand new home, that is off-gassing from carpets and cabinets?

• Do you use conventional beauty products?

• Have you had chronic digestive problems?

3) Test

A gold standard of discovery is our Envirotox test by the Great Plains Laboratory. It can measure:

• Mycotoxins (mold toxins) in your urine

• Levels of chemicals like jet and car fuel additives in your body

• Glutathione status

• Mitochondrial health markers

• Infections like candida and clostridia

As a practitioner, I really love this test, but it’s expensive, and we can also try glutathione based on ‘what we know so far.’ So if my client is fatigued, has muscle twitches, just moved out of a moldy home, and has never tried glutathione, I’d say give it a try!

Glutathione is part of my ‘top five’ detox supplements and I featured it in my recent book, The Ultimate Toxic Mold Recovery Guide: Take Back Your Health, Home & Life. To learn more about my fave supplements for detox, before sure to keep reading!

Glutathione as a Supplement

Glutathione is a very small protein. If it is consumed in its isolated state, the digestive system will break it down and it will not have the intended effect. Therefore, glutathione needs to be delivered in a more complex form for proper absorption.

Studies have shown that plasma glutathione (GSH) increases post-oral GSH supplementation, which may be the result of a combination of intact absorption of GSH, absorption of its three amino acid precursors and/or systemic sparing of GSH due to increased GSH in intestinal cells.

Our Glutathione Synergy is an ideal alternative for supporting glutathione status in an effective way. 

Glutathione Synergy is chemically altered in order to be suitable for oral ingestion. The “S-acetyl” molecule bound to glutathione protects glutathione from breaking down in the gastrointestinal tract, so it reaches the bloodstream intact. 

Once absorbed and inside the cells it is removed, thus leaving the glutathione molecule intact. 

Glutathione Synergy is ideal for viral conditions and for more intense therapy when higher doses are recommended. Not only has it been shown to remain stable in the gastrointestinal tract, but it also has a longer plasma half-life with an improved ability to enter cells and raise intercellular glutathione levels more efficiently.

Additional Highlights of Glutathione Synergy

N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC) is included in this formula, as this stable form of cysteine supplies important precursors to the production of glutathione. 

Vitamin B6 is an essential element in enzyme reactions, including the production of glutathione. Glutathione Synergy raises intracellular levels of GSH by direct absorption inside cells and then it is broken down and re-synthesized, thus increasing the need for vitamin B6.

How to Take Glutathione

We all react a little differently to supplements. Some people feel better on glutathione right away, some worse (this could be genetics or other factors), and some neutral. 

For me, a glutathione supplement feels neutral, but I know it’s good for me and has helped in my recovery. What does feel great to me is a coffee enema, which is another way to boost glutathione.

Our glutathione is in a capsule, so if you are sensitive to supplements, start with a ¼ or ½ capsule. I’d say a ‘full dose’ is 2 capsules a day, but you don’t have to hit it, whether due to sensitivity or budget. 

Like binders, I don’t consider glutathione to be a long-term, daily, forever kind of supplement. It’s there to help you recover from what toxins have depleted while you avoid toxin exposures moving forward. 

What Are Some Other Great Antioxidants to Consider?

Glutathione is not the only antioxidant in town! In fact, I love an array of antioxidants, and plan to write my next book about them!

A few antioxidants you may have heard of are:

• Vitamin C

• Vitamin A

• Vitamin E

• Quercetin

• CoQ10

• Turmeric

• Grape seed extract

• Blueberries, blackberries & strawberries (5)

I find that the concept of oxidative stress does not get covered nearly enough in the conversation about detoxification.

Here’s a good summary from the Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, 2010, entitled, Chemical and molecular mechanisms of antioxidants: experimental approaches and model systems:

“Free radicals are atoms, molecules or ions with unpaired electrons…

…during times of environmental stress and cell dysfunction, ROS (reactive oxygen species) levels can increase dramatically and cause significant cellular damage in the body. Thus, oxidative stress significantly contributes to the pathogenesis of inflammatory disease, cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, cataracts, autism and aging. 

In order to prevent or reduce the ROS-induced oxidative damage, the human body and other organisms have developed an antioxidant defence system that includes enzymatic, metal chelating and free radical scavenging activities to neutralize these radicals after they have formed. In addition, intake of dietary antioxidants may help to maintain an adequate antioxidant status in the body.” (6)

Mycotoxins, pesticides, heavy metals, and even overconsumption of macronutrients can lead to oxidative stress. (7, 8, 9, 10)

In turn, excessive oxidative stress can contribute to early aging, recurrent miscarriage, metabolic diseases, Alzheimer's, and more. (11, 12)

Mi Detox Electrolytes

So when I formulated Mi Detox Electrolytes, I included several antioxidants for just this reason. 

These are vitamin C, blackberry powder, quercetin, and selenium.

Not only do antioxidants tip the see-saw away from oxidative damage from toxins, but they also help the oxidative damage from sun and exercise!

Mi Detox Electrolytes also have some key B vitamins to support phase 1 and 2 liver detoxification. And getting more fluids through your electrolyte beverage supports detox through urination.

Thanks to Elizabeth for writing this review:

“I am big into electrolytes. I feel better physically when I include electrolyte supplements into my daily protocols. It is sweet and tastes like mango. It is sweetened with Stevia (not sugar- yay). It's my new fav! 

I love that it has Vitamin C in it. It is also packed with B1, B2, B6, Magnesium <----YES!, Selenium, Potassium, Sodium Chloride, Quercitin, and Organic Blackberry Fruit. This is such a great supplement and I am so glad I stocked up. 5 Star!”

Mi CoQ10

Lastly, a lesser-known antioxidant is CoQ10, but it’s a frickin’ powerhouse. Our version, again quite sophisticated in its formulation, is called Mi CoQ10. 

All our “Mi” products support mitochondrial health for increased energy and vitality. 

Coenzyme Q10, or ubiquinone, is a lipophilic antioxidant that your body produces and that also can be obtained through food and supplementation. (13) 

CoQ10 levels decline significantly with age.

“A 10% decline in aerobic cellular respiration has been observed every decade, possibly due to the natural decline in ubiquinol synthesis and increased degradation due to aging.” (14)

Biological Actions of CoQ10:

• ATP cellular energy production

• Supports cell growth and differentiation

• Supports mitochondrial permeability

• Protects DNA, especially mitochondrial DNA

• Protects lipids and proteins (it’s a lipid-soluble antioxidant)

• Recycles vitamin E and C

• Anti-inflammatory

• Affects 100+ genes

• Important in mitochondrial biogenesis

• Supports liver health

• Supports glucose and fat metabolism

• Supports exercise performance and recovery

• Enhances glutathione activity (15)

I feel like Mi CoQ10 is my long-term anti-aging secret. It’s safe enough to take daily. Here’s what our client, Jen, had to say about it:

“I lapsed in my subscription and noticed that my mid-afternoon slump returned, and that I needed more sleep.  When I resumed it I was all good again!  No slump, great energy all day, back to doing well on 6-7 hours of sleep.  It's an energy miracle!”

Antioxidant Trio

I’d love for you to try these products I specially designed for your detox recovery! We offer a no-fuss, 30-day refund period if you are not satisfied for any reason, so it’s risk-free!

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Bridgit Danner, LAc, FDNP, is trained in functional health coaching and has worked with thousands of women over her career since 2004. She is the founder of Women’s Wellness Collaborative llc and HormoneDetoxShop.com.

Check out her easy 5-Day DIY Detox Guide here!

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